Good riding snacks?

[TexasKate]

Hello again, ladies! I've been away for a while, but have found my way home and am riding again...could BARELY do 6.7 miles two weeks ago (I hadn't ridden in about 2 months), and am now up to 26 and feeling pretty darn good!
:cool:

Now, on to my question - since I'm doing longer rides, should I bring a snack or two along just to keep my energy up. I've read and been told that a lot of cyclists bring fruit along, but I've found that bananas and apples make me REALLY hungry. Does anyone else experience this, or am I a freak of nature? Maybe I should just pack a granola bar or two and forget about it...

What do you ladies think? Do you snack on long rides? :confused:

[makbike]

I carry a couple of Clif bars in my bag at all times just in case I get the munchies while I'm riding. If I know I'm going to partake in a long ride I will sometimes carry trail mix (peanuts, M & M's and raisins) and/or a couple of boxes of raisins (plain or yogurt covered).

I personally can't stomach bananas while riding for they really upset my stomach.

[KnottedYet]

If I eat something too sweet, I also get a rebound afterwards that makes me even hungrier than before I ate the sweet thing.

My blood sugar likes to bounce around, so I bring a variety of things in my handy pannier. Payday bars work well for me, and I usually bring some walnuts or cheese. Lara Bars are great, but expensive. Oddly enough, Clif Shot Bloks don't rebound on me, but also expensive. Bananas are usually no problem for me either. When I eat while riding I really do make a picnic of it: I get off the bike, take off my helmet, eat a few things, watch the world go by.

[Denise223]

Some yummy snacks would be...... Zoe bars, Whole Foods unsalted cranberry trail mix, raw almonds, Mi-Del Vanilla or Lemon snaps....... Just some things I like....

Denise

[caligurl]

i love the kashi brand bars!!!!!!

[TsPoet]

I can't find it now, but I read a blog awhile ago from a nutritionist/cyclist who suggested fig newtons, she claimed they have a lot of what people look for in energy bars, without the cost.
Anyway, they work well for me. Of course one reason I like them is I don't like them:rolleyes: , so I only eat them on the bike and only 1-2 every 30 minutes or so. Things I like (like Luna bars) have a tendancy to be eaten too much.

[KSH]

Well, if I am going to stop on a ride (with my 30-50 mile rides), I will eat a Clif bar.

If I am doing a solid ride with no stops (20-30 miles), I eat on Clif Shot Blocks out of a bag I have on my bike frame. I also make sure that I get a good amount of calories in before the ride.

[slinkedog]

Love Luna Bars (lemon zest are my faves), Larabars, Gu, Paydays and Fig Newtons. And having an electrolyte replacement drink in your water bottle (like Cytomax or one of hundreds of others) is a good thing, too!! :)

[Steph_in_TX]

I like pretzels, animal crackers, or Ritz bits with peanut butter in the summer. In the Texas heat, anything that will melt or get really sticky is a huge bother to me. I can't seem to eat it without getting myself all sticky. By the way...sport beans melt, but they washed out of the jersey nicely. :o I have had to discontinue my practice of emptying them into a pocket for easy munching.

[MomOnBike]

GOOD: Payday bars, crunchy granola bars, fig newtons, salted mixed nuts, hard boiled eggs (cool weather only).

For relaxed rides, we, DH & I, are also fond of bike picnics with fancy bread, canned oysters, good cheese, fruit, all that. Just don't overpack/eat. There is also something to be said for stopping at small diners/bars/greasy spoons for a burger - or whatever.

BAD: Bananas (how do people gag them down?), chocolate (just not tasty when I'm working), anything fragile, anything expensive.

[li10up]

My typical ride sounds alot like yours 20-25 miles. Unless you haven't eaten in quite awhile you PROBABLY don't need food while on the bike. You might want to eat a little something before you start your ride though. Sometimes I'll just eat a Power Bar gel before starting my ride. Gatorade or your sport drink of choice should help keep you from getting sluggish for that length of a ride. The people I know that do longer rides 40, 50+ do eat on the bike. Grapes and Fig Newtons seem to be popular with them.

[im4smiley]

I will agree with you, Texaskate, when I eat apples, it makes me hungry

[bcipam]

On rides less than 50 miles, I generally only eat a Balance Bar (half way) and use GU or Beans.

On rides greater than 50 miles, I carry fig newtons (full strength - need all the sugar they can offer), or a half pj sandwich (no jelly), maybe another Balance Bar. Generally I stop and have lunch somewhere if I'm out for over 4 hours. Don't like to carry too much but then again I live in an urban area. There's a convenience store every other block!

I wouldn't get in the habit of carrying too much food and/or eating too much. You should be fueling (lightly) every 20 miles and if into a long ride, maybe every 15 - 20 minutes (after 25 miles). GU, Hammer Gel, etc is great for that.

[KnottedYet]

I'd guess I have a picnic every 10 miles or so. (I'm slow, so that's every 45 min or so) If I don't eat a little something fairly often I get crazy-hungry and b*tchy and headachey. My ride turns foul, and then I eat waaaaaay too much after the ride.

You just have to experiment and find out what works best for you. My bod likes the way things are now; I have fun rides and feel great and lost 50 lbs and am down 8 sizes.

My wife, on the other hand, hardly ever wants to picnic as often as I do. She stays happy with just sports drink and eating maybe once to every 2 or 3 of my picnics.

[dachshund]

I'm currently studying the information at the website below. It's like "everything you always wanted to know about eating for cycling..." although the information would apply to any sport. It's been posted elsewhere, but it has helped me make sense of the gazillion products available.
http://www.naturalstrength.com/nutrition/default.asp

We used to make jokes about carrying a cooked baked potato in your jersey pocket. I'm glad to see that the PBJ has replaced this as the perfect food. :D

[KSH]

Hey KnottedYet... are you a man... or are you woman married to a woman?

Just curious... as typically men stay away from... "Team ESTROGEN". :D


My wife, on the other hand, hardly ever wants to picnic as often as I do. She stays happy with just sports drink and eating maybe once to every 2 or 3 of my picnics.

[triflor]

I say fruit leather is good, like Fruit-to-go. Gu, Sharkies, the little packages of Fruit gummies that are so typical in children's lunchboxes. Pretzels. Granola bars. I particularly like Nature's Valley Crunchy bars. Of course gatorade.

[KnottedYet]

KSH - I'm a woman married to a woman. As the saying goes "we are everywhere". She's a biker, too.

Wife, S.O., partner... it all means "spouse" in the end.

[salsabike]

In case anyone's interested, I asked my family doc last year whether we should bring some kind of sports drink mix on the Seattle to Portland ride. She's a super jock, champion mountain climber, and has done the STP on a tandem 8 times as part of the medical team. She said she once asked a guy she used to date, a doc who was on the US Olympic team nutrition committee, about what is really important to take in on a long ride. He said if you drink plenty of water and eat the stuff at the food stops like PBJ, bananas, oranges, bagels, boiled potato, you would have everything you need. Worked for us last year.

On my weekly 30 mile rides, I usually eat a Balance or Luna bar, and that's it, with lots of water. 60 mile rides, two bars and water.

[pooks]

When y'all say Payday, are you talking about the candy bar?

[CorsairMac]

yup - and I've started carrying hard-boiled eggs and rice cakes! The perfect ride food! :D

[jobob]

For relaxed rides, we, DH & I, are also fond of bike picnics with fancy bread, canned oysters, good cheese, fruit, all that.

MOB, that sounds wonderful ! :)

[jobob]

When y'all say Payday, are you talking about the candy bar? Yes indeedy. They're great on the bike snacks (imho of course, but an o shared by many!), with the caramel and the peanut, they hold up reasonably well to heat and bike bag abuse. They do turn into little cement bricks in the cold, but so it goes.

I especially like the snack size paydays, they are the perfect size for a quick pick-me-up. They're really hard to find in the snack size so I always buy serveral bags when I find them. Can't imagine what the check-out person must think. :D

[caligurl]

i don't buy or eat candy bars for on the bike... but i do like the sweet and salty bars that they seem to have a lot at organized ride sag stops lately!

i like that i can grab a couple and take them on the bike for later when i get hungry!

[pooks]

Paydays used to be my favorite candy bar for eating in a movie theater. I'd slowly nibble off all the nuts, and save the caramel for the end. They lasted a long time!

Haven't had any in years, but I did love the things. Thanks for the tip.

[veloputt]

good info/tips from all on food choices--but I learned to cut the bag open slightly to make it easy to get to the goods while still on the bike! I once lost an entire Clif Bar while struggling to open its bag :(

I've also become a fan of Glaceau's VitaminWater--I like diluting 50-50 w/ water for my hour commutes, and the tropical citrus "energy" is a good flavor--not too sweet--when diluted!

Poptarts are also a good ride snack--unfrosted strawberry--yum!

[Tater]

If I don't eat a little something fairly often I get crazy-hungry and b*tchy and headachey. My ride turns foul, and then I eat waaaaaay too much after the ride.

I get this way as well if I don't eat! It isn't fun. I have gotten to where I have snacks stashed EVERYWHERE! Luna bars in my desk drawer at work, trail mix in the truck, and Sports beans in the Bento Box (pb sammy and Fig Newtons for rides over forty miles). I am a day long grazer, (Moo!) but it seems to keep my blood sugar on an even keel.

[dachshund]

He said if you drink plenty of water and eat the stuff at the food stops like PBJ, bananas, oranges, bagels, boiled potato, you would have everything you need.

See - there's that potato again. :p

[dachshund]

Wife, S.O., partner... it all means "spouse" in the end.

So could we use "DW" ? :rolleyes:
I never figured out exactly what DH stands for:
dear husband
darned husband
dang husband
dea... no, wait, probably not...

http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?acronym=dh&string=exact&s=r&page=1

Probably not designated hitter or Dennis Hopper...

[KnottedYet]

I've seen a few women on here use "DP" (dear partner)

But yeah, don't see why we couldn't all use "DW"! Everybody join my team! How 'bout DPITA? (for those days when the dear spouse is being a Pain In The A$$)

DS is usually "dear son".

(I'm kinda likin' DPITA)

[Trek420]

Knotted how about:
SOOTOG or Significant Other Of The Opposite Gender
SOOTSG or Significant Other Of The Same Gender

is DD the dear dog? :p

on the bike: Luna Bars, Cliff in fave flavors, I don't like the real sweet ones. On hard and or hilly rides I prefer raisins to Gu because I think they say with me longer but will bring Gu. Also like a small bag of "Spazzdog's secret gorp" if it's a hard ride, small bag with chopped up Power bars, M&Ms or other unmeltable chocolate, pretsels and or peanuts and nuts.

On the Cinderella ride I made special low fiber version of Spazzdog Gorp for Bikeless I mean Duckless I mean Duck on Wheels.

At rest stops I like bananas and find them a quick source of carbs and sugar. You know; time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana :cool: Also like bagels with peanut butter...but potato?

But there's no one right way to eat on a bike tho some things may work more than others, I feel we train our stomachs as well as our legs. Before any big event I don't want to change my diet.

[dachshund]

Regarding acronyms: My DGF (dear girlfriend) doesn't like the term "wife", so in deference to her I'll stick with GF or SO.

DD - dear dog! That's great! Of course here it's dear dachshund. Then there's DC, dang cat! The cat belongs to the GF, so you get the picture. After 10 years the cat has finally decided to like me. I'm not sure how I feel about this. He sits on my lap every morning while I sip coffee and browse the internet. Gets cat fur in my trackball.

This is so much more fun than working.

Regarding food:
I'll have to try Cliff bars again. Aren't the Luna bars gooey?? And what is GU? I haven't gotten this far in my research.

[Trek420]

Usually it's dear dog, this morning it was Dang Dog.

It was soooo hot last night that DD and I discussed I would allow her to sleep downstairs. Usually I don't do that or let her have free roam of the house at night, it's an "alpha thang". Came downstairs to find her taking full advantage and sleeping on the coach.

We discussed how that is not allowed :rolleyes:

regarding acronymns I thing DX is dang-ex regardless of what team you bat for.

[caligurl]

I've seen a few women on here use "DP" (dear partner)

But yeah, don't see why we couldn't all use "DW"! Everybody join my team! How 'bout DPITA? (for those days when the dear spouse is being a Pain In The A$$)

DS is usually "dear son".

(I'm kinda likin' DPITA)

oh.... i SO vote for DPITA no matter what their gender or specific relationship!

[dachshund]

It's always good to talk these things out with the DD of the house. :D

[latelatebloomer]

Marching as I do to that different drummer, I always thought DH stood for
"DearHeart." It does work for whatever team you play on!:D

Thanks for the Payday tip. I'll try 'em. I didn't like the salty kick when I was I kid and they were dreaded Halloween issue - sounds like they're worth another try.

[kelownagirl]

I alternate between "dear husband" and "damn husband" depending on my mood....

Actually, I shouldn't technically be using the dh term anymore anyways, since I am no longer married and I'm living with my new love but I just can't bring myself to refer to him as my "boyfriend" at the age of 46... "Partner" sounds so "legal"... Maybe I should call him Erik???

barb

[DirtDiva]

Only if that's his name. ;) Ah, what the heck - we can just pretend his name's Erik anyway. :p

[MomOnBike]

I suppose we could all call our Others Erik or Erika, depending. Could get confusing, though.

BTW, when I say DH I'm not always thinking either Dear or Husband, depending on my mood. I can get quite creative, but I'll let you fill in the blanks, spelling optional.

[Aggie_Ama]

DD - dear dog! That's great! Of course here it's dear dachshund. Then there's DC, dang cat! The cat belongs to the GF, so you get the picture. After 10 years the cat has finally decided to like me. I'm not sure how I feel about this. He sits on my lap every morning while I sip coffee and browse the internet. Gets cat fur in my trackball.



My Pawpaw had a cat named DC. The cat adopted him and he _pretended_he didn't want it to stay. He loved animals but my Nanny hated cats, so he told her he didn't feed it. He said "The damn cat just won't leave." The had the cat 17 years and when he died he was buried with DC's ashes.

[crazycanuck]

Hey kelownagirl,

You could call your new man -dude, my loverly, my funkyman, the sexy young man (TSYM), my funkybikerman,

Erm...maybe not...:rolleyes:

where's my coffee?

c

[Trek420]

MomOnBike "I suppose we could all call our Others Erik or Erika, depending."

Let's just call everyone Erik or Erika :D

[Nanci]

Man, you guys have really drifted since the last time I read this thread!

Erika

[DirtDiva]

Us? Drift? Oh, Erika, surely you jest?

- E :D

[pooks]

My husband is a ham radio operator, and they call their wives XYLs.

X-Young-Ladies.

Yes, I think that's grounds for a divorce.

Back to snacks!

I'm going to buy some of those snack size baggies today and want to cut some bars into bite size pieces. I like the Peanut Butter Balance Bars (I don't think they would melt or get gooey -- not sure, though -- they don't have a chocolate coating).

Paydays ought to work.

What other bars would do well in pieces without crumbling to bits or melting?

[Lifesgreat]

I like PB and J sandwiches. I make one or two, cut them into quarters, bag and put them in my bento box. Yum!

[pooks]

PB&J is hard to beat -- especially crunchy.

I discovered PB& apple slice sandwiches are good when they're fresh -- extra crunch. That might not hold up to heat well, though.

[dachshund]

Man, you guys have really drifted since the last time I read this thread!

Erika

If you will refer to page two, I did warn about the thread drift... I'm just sayin'.

I've been reading here for about a month (not this post, but the forum), and while I did figure out LBS and a few others, I was snagged on DH. I read "desginated hitter" for a while, I admit. And damn husband. But Erik and Erika, that's good!

[Granny M]

Referring to snacks on the bike, if it's 40 miles or less, a cliff bar or gu or two will do. More than that requires fig newtons as well. And I always have something within 15 minutes after I'm finished riding--another cliff bar or smoothie usually. Can't hardly choke down a banana in the heat. Ick!

Referring to what I call my SO---it depends on whether he waits on me or never looks back after he takes off on his 26 mph testerone rides. I've called him many different names.